Kerala HC allows time for State to object to Thachankary’s appeal against conviction in disproportionate assets case

The Kerala High Court has allowed the State government to file a counter in an appeal filed by former Director General of Police Tomin J. Thachankary against his conviction in the disproportionate assets case.

Justice A. Badharudeen observed that even though the provision under Code of Criminal Procedure did not provide for a written objection from the State when the sentence was below ten years, such a course of action was not prohibited in cases of “exceptional circumstances.”

Mr. Thachankary was sentenced to four years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of ₹30.84 lakh on September 17. The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau had filed a chargesheet before the trial court stating that Mr. Thachankary had obtained assets worth ₹64 lakh in addition to his declared sources of income, which were allegedly 135% higher than his normal income.